“That’s not the point,” Jayce said. “Remember, Mom might always be in your corner, but she’s going to worry too.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
She put her hand on his shoulder. “I know you’re excited, but you need to follow the rules, especially in parking lots.”
“I will. I just want to see his reaction. This is for you, Jayce.”
Her son handed the bag over.
“Can I open it inside or do I need to do it now?”
“Inside is good,” she said.
The minute they were in their seats, Archer was urging him on. “Come on, look at it. I want to know what you think. I picked it out.”
“Well, if you picked it out, I’m sure I’m going to love it,” he said, pulling out the tissue paper.
There were three comic books in there. OneDog Manand two DC ones that she just glanced at when Archer snagged them.
“Now you can read them and catch up with me. I bet you like them as much as me. Those are two of my favorites.”
“Oh wow,” he said. “These are great. I can’t wait.” Jayce was already flipping through them. She got a soft look ofappreciation over the gift. Then a smile sent her son’s way and how proud Archer was that Jayce loved it.
“Nope, not now,” Archer said. “You can read them and then when I see you again, we can talk about them.”
“We can do that,” he said, putting them back in the blue gift bag, then holding his fist out for Archer to tap his against.
“When will I see you again?” Archer said. “I have to go back to school on Monday and tonight I’m going to my grandparents to sleep over.”
“You are?” he asked, looking at her, their eyes locking.
“Yeah. He misses his grandparents. They wanted to see him and he asked if he could spend the night.”
“Mom is going to be alone. She’ll probably watch some movie with kissing in it.”
The heat filled her face.
“There isn’t anything wrong with a little romance,” Jayce said. “When you get older you’ll understand.”
Archer opened his mouth and stuck his finger in it, then gagged loudly.
“Stop that,” she said. “People are going to look and think there is something wrong with the food.”
“We haven’t eaten yet,” Archer argued.
An hour later, she was saying bye to Jayce, Archer giving him another fist pump, and her driving to her parents.
A message notification popped up on her screen in the car from Jayce, but no way she’d listen to it. Something inside of her said to wait until she could read it on her phone when she parked.
And the minute she pulled into her parents’ driveway, she looked at the message on her phone and saw Jayce asking if she wanted company tonight.
He’d know she read the message.
She’d never leave him on read.
Nor did she want to overthink this and replied yes, and she’d reach out when she was alone.
“What has you smiling?” her mother asked when the front door was opened.
